What comes to mind when you think about preventing teen suicide? Crisis hotlines, maybe. Emergency interventions. Those matter – but prevention often starts earlier, in everyday relationships at home, school and in the community. A parent asking about a teenager’s day over dinner, for instance. Or a teacher helping a student find purpose in what they’re learning. Or even neighbors cheering on teens at a Friday night game.
These moments may seem ordinary, but our research suggests they play a bigger role in protecting teens from suicide than most realize.
